B-17 — The Flying Fortress Survivors
Airworthy Flying Forts

‘And then there were ten...’ Long live the
memory of the Liberty Belle. She was active for only 6 years since being
restored, but what a magnificent six those were.

There are few creations of technology as majestic as a 4-engine
heavy bomber in flight. They are little more than bits of aluminum,
fabric, 72 pistons, and a dozen propeller blades all moving through the
sky in loose formation. The only thing that comes close is a steam
locomotive with all of its moving parts on the outside of the
machine. But a locomotive will never fly, and can never spark
one's imagination to shoot for the stars like a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Built mostly over 3 years from mid-1942 to mid-1945, these four
engine heavy bombers once filled the skies. Workers across the
US built 12,731 B-17's, 19,258 B-24's, and 3,960 B-29's. They
are all but gone today, with only one B-29 still flying and three
B-24's still airworthy. The B-17, however fared a little better.
Many saw post-WWII action as transports, passenger craft, sprayers,
and water bombers. While this service was not as glamorous, it
kept the Flying Fortress lineage alive and in the air. As a result,
there are 15 B-17 Flying Fortresses still airworthy, plus a few
other hulks that have a realistic chance of being restored.

Someone once said that a B-17 operates on gas, oil, and money.
Especially money. A B-17 will easily burn 200 gallons of fuel
per hour, plus about 10 gallons of oil per hour. Consumables
and wear items cost an estimated $3,000 per flight hour. For
each hour a Flying Fortress spends in the air, ten are spent
on the ground in maintenance. An engine overhaul can cost
$40,000, and FAA required wing-spar inspections and repairs
will cost each Flying Fortress in excess of $100,000. The
Collings Foundation's Nine'O'Nine overran the runway in Beaver
Falls, PA, a number of years back. The EAA's Aluminum Overcast
had her landing gear collapse in 2004. Liberty Belle was once
destroyed by a tornado. While each of these restoration
projects are technical and financial marvels, the value of the
volunteer work that goes into such a project is beyond imagination.

Operating a B-17 is more than what most any one person can do.
As a result, most are owned by foundations or museums set up
specifically to keep the Flying Fortress in the air. These
organizations are partly funded by corporate donations and air
show fees, but most depend on touring. A B-17 tour will take
the Flying Fortress from city to city across the USA, where she
will be on display for tours, and a lucky few have a chance to take
a flight on the B-17. If you hear that a B-17 tour is stopping
in your city, please do go check it out, contribute a few dollars,
and consider taking a B-17 flight. I can promise it will be the
thrill of a lifetime. Keep 'em flying...